Clive Barker’s “Hellraiser” and “Nightbreed” in Development for Television

RHI Entertainment has gone down in bankruptcy flames, and now has risen from the ashes as Sonar Entertainment. Stewart Till has been appointed Chief Executive, and he plans to guide the company into a solid strategy for growth and expansion. One of the projects on the docket is “Hellraiser,” which was created by writer/director Clive Barker.

Sonar is co-developing with Eric Gardner’s Panacea Entertainment “Hellraiser,” a TV series based on the cult British horror franchise. Gardner will executive produce along with Larry Kuppin, whose company New World Entertainment is behind the first two “Hellraiser” films.

Till told Variety:

“If you look at our slate, you’ll see shows that have either a great brand name like ‘King Tut’ or ‘Hellraiser’ that arrive with a recognition, a build-in marketing platform and/or a great writer like ‘MPH’ with Steven E. De Souza.”

Apparently, the series will not involve Barker.

“Time to play!” Pinhead to Kirsty Cotton.

“Nightbreed”

Under controversy even to this day, “Nightbreed” has been building fanaticism on the horror convention circuit with an extended director’s cut. Fans are clamouring for the film to be released on Blu-Ray with the added footage. The cause has been so great that it has spawned a movement on Facebook.

Released in 1990, Clive Barker’s “Nightbreed” disappeared in a storm of studio interference. Barker claims it was a film way ahead of its time, and the producers didn’t understand it.

“I don’t wish to be immodest, but our culture has sort of caught up with “Nightbreed,”” Barker says, “and we’re actively in conversation about doing a “Nightbreed” television series. The general sense is that the movie failed because people didn’t want to associate with the monster. I think our culture is now more ready to embrace that ambiguity. I’m not a fan, but you’ve only got to look at “Twilight,” where obviously the monsters are the good guys and being celebrated…”

The tension for survival, make-up, and quest for a safe haven will live up to the film: “It will be for cable, so it will have a chance to be as sexy or as graphic in terms of the violence as we need it to be. Have you seen Spartacus? Oh my god, it redefines gruesome…”

Here is the synopsis for the film.

Based on Barker’s novella Cabal, the story involves the plight of Aaron Boone (Craig Sheffer), a young man tormented by visions of monstrous, graveyard-dwelling creatures. Seeking the aid of his clinically cold therapist Dr. Decker (played by Canadian horror auteur David Cronenberg) in deciphering his nightmares, Boone becomes convinced that his frequent blackouts are linked to a recent spate of mutilation murders in the area. His frantic search for the truth leads him to the subterranean city of Midian, the dwelling place of a mythical race of undead nocturnal monsters known as the “Nightbreed.” But it is only after he is cornered and shot dead by police that Boone’s real journey begins — he finds himself resurrected as one of the Breed. Though Barker’s unique and graphic vision is somewhat blunted by choppy editing (thanks to relentless tampering from the studio), this is nevertheless a fine sophomore project from a talented storyteller; the central conceit of presenting the monsters as the “good guys” — at least compared to the gun-and-bible-toting lunatics who hunt them.

Nuke the Fridge will keep you updated on the two projects as news develops.

“Brothers and sisters, it is time to fight!” Aaron Boone’s rallying cry to the Breed.